The inequality between women’s and men’s health represents $1 trillion in potential economic growth, say senior partner Lucy Pérez and colleagues. Women’s health covers a spectrum of health experiences that affect women uniquely, differently, or disproportionately versus men. The difference in these experiences results in women having more health problems, despite living longer. Addressing the disparities could enhance the quality of life for women across their lifespan and improve future generations’ health and wealth.
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An area tree map shows the potential GDP impact of closing the women’s health gap globally by 2040. The total value of closing the gap is $1.0 trillion. The gain is broken down into 4 health intervention segments. To determine the potential economic effect of the segments, analysts used population and labor force predictions up to 2040. The assumptions for estimating impact were based on academic studies and verified by experts. Achieving fewer health conditions, described as the prevention of premature deaths to extend active life in women, where women are at a disadvantage to men today, has a gain of $390.6 billion. Increasing productivity, described as an increase in economic participation of women with disabilities or informal caregivers, has a gain of $229.8 billion. Expanding participation, described as a boost in the productivity of women and the future earnings potential of girls, where they are at a disadvantage to men, and including impact on older adults in high- and upper-middle-income countries, informal caregivers in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, and people with disabilities, has a gain of $240.3 billion. And having fewer early deaths, described as a reduction in disability in women, where women are at a disadvantage to men today, leading to decreased absenteeism or increased working hours has a gain of $165.1 billion. Source: Eurostat; ILOSTAT; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2019, used with permission, all rights reserved; National Transfer; OECD; Oxford Economics; World Development Indicators, DataBank; McKinsey Health Institute analysis.
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To view the interactive, see “Bridging the women’s health gap: A country-level exploration,” May 2024.